Lesotho vs South Africa: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure

Lesotho
26.44 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2023
South Africa
27.72 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2023
Lesotho rank
58th
South Africa rank
55th

PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure over time

  • Lesotho
  • South Africa
0102030199020062023

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter against 26.44 micrograms per cubic meter in Lesotho, a difference of 1.28 micrograms per cubic meter.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 34 shared years of data; in 1990 it was Lesotho ahead.

Lesotho ranks 58th and South Africa ranks 55th of 200 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, Lesotho averaged higher in 2 and South Africa in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade Lesotho South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 30.15 micrograms per cubic meter 23.87 micrograms per cubic meter 6.28 micrograms per cubic meter Lesotho
2000s 28.08 micrograms per cubic meter 24.35 micrograms per cubic meter 3.73 micrograms per cubic meter Lesotho
2010s 27.64 micrograms per cubic meter 28.52 micrograms per cubic meter 0.8779 micrograms per cubic meter South Africa
2020s 27.85 micrograms per cubic meter 28.07 micrograms per cubic meter 0.2181 micrograms per cubic meter South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure, Lesotho or South Africa?
South Africa, at 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter against 26.44 micrograms per cubic meter in Lesotho as of 2023.
What is the difference in pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure between Lesotho and South Africa?
1.28 micrograms per cubic meter, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Lesotho and South Africa?
34 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2023.
How do Lesotho and South Africa rank globally for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
Lesotho ranks 58th and South Africa ranks 55th of 200 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) Air Pollution Exposure Estimates and Risk Curves 1990-2023, GBD Collaborator Network, published as PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Lesotho vs South Africa: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure. Statizoid, drawing on Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) Air Pollution Exposure Estimates and Risk Curves 1990-2023, GBD Collaborator Network. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://urban.statizoid.com/compare/pm2-5-air-pollution-mean-annual-exposure-micrograms-per-cubic-meter/lesotho/south-africa/

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<a href="https://urban.statizoid.com/compare/pm2-5-air-pollution-mean-annual-exposure-micrograms-per-cubic-meter/lesotho/south-africa/">Lesotho vs South Africa: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter)
Unit
micrograms per cubic meter
Source
Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) Air Pollution Exposure Estimates and Risk Curves 1990-2023, GBD Collaborator Network
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
247 places, 8,398 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed

Population-weighted exposure to ambient PM2.5 pollution is defined as the average level of exposure of a nation's population to concentrations of suspended particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter, which are capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract and causing severe health damage. Exposure is calculated by weighting mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 by population in both urban and rural areas.